Page 4 of Matters of a Duke's Heart
Daphne blushed but giggled quietly, taking her place at Felicity’s side again. In her pale blue dress, and with her blonde hair and the green eyes the sisters had in common, she was the perfect image of a ton lady on the cusp of a prosperous Season, no doubt.
Good things will happen for her, Felicity thought. And for me… I can only hope I can please my mama and that my love match is waiting for me. For she was aware of her time running out, and she could not be the Season’s spinster. Her heart ached at the thought of it.
She turned her gaze to where an announcer stood atop the Orchestra platform.
“Ladies and gentlemen, thank you for being guests of Vauxhall Gardens on this celebratory evening.
Mr. Barrett has prepared a most admired firework display for you this evening to commemorate, as well as a short announcement of the new addition to the gardens. Do enjoy your evening. Thank you.”
The low, rough voice of the handsome stranger that had dismissed her so abruptly echoed in her mind, his dismissive enjoy the celebration lingering.
As Felicity listened to the speech, she looked out at the crowd, wondering where he had disappeared to, for she did not see him. Forcing him from her thoughts, she let her mind wander further. Who else in the crowd might catch her eye at next week’s ball?
Was her future love in attendance?
Could she still hope for the love match she had long dreamed of?
Chapter 2
Spencer Dunne, the Duke of Langdon, stalked through Vauxhall Gardens, his eyes pointedly fixed ahead. He did not make eye contact with anybody, even as he was aware of the eyes that tried to catch his.
He made his way down the Grand Walk, emerging from the other path he had been on, his thoughts firmly distracted from the lady he had accidentally walked into not long ago.
He had glanced back once when he reached the turn onto another path, finding her hurriedly making her way in the opposite direction.
There had been a moment where Spencer had paused, considering going back, until a couple had entered the path, spotted him, and forced him onwards with their whisperings.
Despite his rank, Spencer felt as though he was constantly trying to run away from them all.
All, with their gossip and their speculation about his life, their casts of judgement when he had done nothing to them, nothing to slight them. Nothing to encourage or dissuade the rumors, either.
Why bother wasting his breath? The ton would believe what it wanted to, and he had seen his name in the scandal sheets enough times already, the damage to his reputation already done. He didn’t need to add more to with a confrontation.
Spencer grimaced as he approached the large crowd gathered around the Orchestra, but thankfully, the brown-haired earl he was looking for stood away from the crush of guests that day, already looking around. Once he clapped eyes on Spencer, he smiled brightly.
“And here I thought you would never show up. What time do you call this?” Rupert Rinhart, the Earl of Wexley, regarded Spencer as he walked up to him. His friend looked rather amused. “Although, by the sour look on your face I am starting to think it best if you had not showed. Do not scare away the ladies, Spencer.”
“The ladies will be preoccupied with the fireworks,” Spencer answered gruffly, sliding his hands into his pockets. His eyes did not scan the surrounding part of Vauxhall Gardens. He definitely did not search for an auburn-haired lady, nor did he wonder if she had made it back safely. “Crowds and loud noises are two of my most disagreeable things. Why did you talk me into this, Wexley?”
“Last week, ballrooms and marriage-minded matrons were your disagreeable things,” Rupert countered. “And you are a duke.Heaven forbid you actually act like one and show your face properly and make conversation with others.”
“I am making conversation with you.”
“And only me. Expand your horizons. I am simply here to remind you of how you ought to behave. Do follow my example at your earliest convenience.”
Spencer shot Rupert a scathing glare, while Rupert merely looked back at him, unphased, but he couldn’t fight the grin off his face for very long.
“And to haul me to Vauxhall Gardens of all places,” Spencer muttered, unable to help his annoyance.
“It is a marvelous place, is it not?” Rupert laughed quietly.
“Scandalous,” Spencer corrected. “There are too many hidden pathways, too many dark corners. I do not trust any of it.”
Rupert paused where he had turned his attention to an assessment of the ladies in attendance and turned to look at him again. “Something has happened.”
Spencer clenched his jaw and nodded. “I had a run-in with a young lady on Grand South Walk, not far from where it woulddivide into Lover’s Walk, actually. She approached me asking for help, claiming to be lost. I turned her away, even though she looked rather helpless.”
“Did you recognize her?”
